Editorial: Oroville back on firm footing

Our view: We've found plenty of reasons to fault the Oroville City Council in the past, but not in this election cycle.

What a difference two years makes. In the last election cycle in 2010, we recommended wholesale changes on the Oroville City Council in the wake of embarrassing behavior by councilors at meetings and away from meetings. The culture of chaos scared away good city employees, potential businesses and was a poor reflection on the community.

Now things are running so smoothly again, we hardly recognize the Oroville City Council. Meetings are civil. Businesses are learning Oroville is receptive to both expansions and new businesses. And what's most surprising is hearing Chico City Council candidates say Chico's city government needs to be more like Oroville's in certain ways.

Two years ago we recommended a clean sweep of the council and four new members. This time around, we like the way things are going and endorse the three incumbents in the race — Thil Chan-Wilcox, Allen Simpson and David Pittman. (Listen to the editorial board interviews at www.chicoer.com/election.)

That's a shame, in one way, because a challenger in this race certainly would make a capable councilor. Freda Flint has lived in Oroville since 1976. She has been a business owner, a Downtown Business Association board member, a member of several clubs and organizations, a promoter of the arts and tourism, a member of the Arts Commission and Parks Commission, and an advocate for Oroville's network of museums.

She truly cares about Oroville and has done much for the city. But we find it hard to say one of the three incumbents doesn't deserve another term, and only three seats are being contested.

Chan-Wilcox, the vice mayor, has always seemed the most quiet and thoughtful of the bunch. When something comes out of her mouth, you know it's well considered. She said she enjoyed her first four-year term on the council and likely would limit herself to one more, but she's running again because she wants to keep positive momentum going.

Pittman, a former Oroville fire chief, and Simpson, a retired firefighter, are running again for much the same reason. Both say they've grown into the job and have improved over the course of one term. Both also say they want to be a part of the key decisions facing the council, including hiring a new city administrator and finding a use for the old Oroville Inn.

All three incumbents say the council still disagrees, but councilors have learned to do so without being disagreeable.

Oroville's city government, known for recall elections and scaring off city administrators, is finally headed in a good direction. After what we've seen in the past, we think voters shouldn't mess with that dynamic.